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Lisp

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May 1, 2024 3 minute read
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Lisp (or LISP) is a family of programming languages that is distinguished by its use of s-expressions (symbolic expressions), a syntax that is fully parenthesized. Lisp was developed by John McCarthy in 1958, and is the second-oldest high-level programming language still in use today (after Fortran), still in use for various academic and commercial purposes. Lisp has a long history and a diverse set of dialects, some of the most notable being Common Lisp, Scheme, and Clojure.

Types of Lisp

There are many different dialects of Lisp, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the most popular dialects include:

Path to Lisp

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We've curated four courses to help you on your path to Lisp. Use these to develop your skills, build background knowledge, and put what you learn to practice.
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Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Lisp.
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Practical Common Lisp
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Practical guide to writing Common Lisp code. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic syntax to advanced techniques such as macros and closures.
Practical Common Lisp
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Practical Common Lisp
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Metamagical Themas
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Classic work on the philosophy of computation. It explores the relationship between computation and the human mind.
Metamagical Themas: Questing for the Essence of...
Paperback
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Metamagical Themas: Questing For The Essence Of...
Kindle Edition
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Land of Lisp
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Fun and engaging way to learn Lisp. It uses a series of interactive exercises to teach the basics of the language.
Land of Lisp
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Land of Lisp
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The Little LISPer
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Great introduction to Lisp for children. It uses a simple and clear style to teach the basics of the language.
The Little LISPer
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The Little LISPer
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Computer Graphics
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Classic introduction to computer graphics. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of 2D graphics to the complexities of 3D rendering.
Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice
Hardcover
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Introduction to Computer Graphics
Hardcover
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Fundamentals of Interactive Computer Graphics...
Hardcover
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Multimedia: System Architectures and Applications...
Paperback
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Code
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Great introduction to the inner workings of computers. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of hardware to the complexities of software.
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and...
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Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and...
Paperback
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Applications = Code + Markup: A Guide to the...
Hardcover
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Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and...
Kindle Edition
$$
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The Annotated Turing
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Great introduction to the work of Alan Turing, one of the pioneers of computer science.
The Annotated Turing
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The Annotated Turing
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Lisp in Small Pieces
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Concise and clear introduction to Lisp. It covers the essential concepts of the language, without getting bogged down in details.
Lisp in Small Pieces
Paperback
$$$
Lisp in Small Pieces
Kindle Edition
$$$
Relevant careers
Software Engineer
Data Scientist
Web Developer
Related topics
Computer Programming
Data Science
Functional Programming
Software Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Cloud Computing
Big Data
Web Development
Database Management
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